Indicator mechanism



Aug. 16, 1938., A. c. GRUNWALD INDICATOR MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1937 [zvemfiow A; 5527" CZG/wA/WALD I FM, PM MM Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES INDICATOR MECHANISM Albert C. Grunwald, Ri

ver Forest, 111;, assignor V to Steiner Sales Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Utah Application May 3, 1937, Serial No. 140,440

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in quantity indicating devices in general and in particular to an apparatus which moves as a result of and is controlled by dispensing action to indicate a change in the amount or condition of the dispensed material.

An object of the invention is to provide an indicator-controlling follower in the form of a swing-arm disposed so as to be engaged by a portion of a supply roll when the same is introduced into a dispensing cabinet, the action being such as to move and set the arm and the indicator which it controls, in an initial position as the cabinet is loaded.

Another object is to provide indicating means and a connection between said means and whereby said arm and indicator assist one another in carrying out their respective functions. Another object is to provide an all gravity operable indicator connected to assist an arm in following the periphery of a supply roll as its diameter decreases, so that the use of springs is unnecessary. Another object is to utilize the end of av slot as a stop for limiting the movement of an indicatorelement and its control means.

Features of the invention include all details of construction shown or described, along with the broader ideas of means inherent in the disclosure and connoted in the claims.

A special feature is that follower and indicator elements are gravity actuated, and each assists the other in its gravity movement.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description of the drawing, and in said drawing,

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through the dispensing mechanism of a towel dispensing cabinet showing the invention applied thereto, and viewing the roll-engaging part of the indicator mechanism;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section showing the indicator part of the mechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Numeral I indicates a cabinet having a door 2, having therein a sight-opening 3, the door in this instance being hinged to the bottom as at 4. The door cooperates with the front 5 of the cabinet to form a delivery opening 6. As will be noted hereafter, when the door is opened the indicator and its operating parts can be easily observed, and the introduction of a supply roll moves the inrec dill) the follower that the indicator dicator to an initial position indicating a full supply.

Arranged within the cabinet are a pair of vertical mouth-plates one only of which is shown at l. The plates are spaced from the side of the cabinet and have mounted thereon feed rolls l0 and H by which the sheet material is delivered through: the delivery opening 6. The dispensing mechanism per se is not claimed herein, except as it is positionally related to the device of. this; invention.

The cabinet is loadedfrom the front and an object of the invention: is to provide an indicator mechanism or controlling-means with which the roll engages as it is introduced, and which causes the indicator to assume an initial position whatever such position may be indicative of.

An object is to so construct the indicator and and follower are set and so that the follower cannot be injured by introduction of the roll.

The supply rollnis indicated at l2. Thepivoted (and in this instance gravity-operable) follower means has the form of a sheet metal plate t3, having a finger-like extension M which engages, or rests upon or against the roll infollow-up relation, and having a right angle extension it whichis connected by a pivot It to the inner side" of the mount plate. This is a relatively free or loose pivotal connection so that any binding, which might. interfere with pivotal or follow-up action is prevented. The mount plate has an arcuate slot ll, the center of curvature of which is at the pivot l6, and the follower has a lateral extension l8 passing through and movable in said slot ll. .One end of the slot acts as a stop to limit the indicator element at one of its positions in a manner hereinafter set forth.

Pivoted. to the outside of the mount plate 1 and. forwardly; of the follower in the direction of 1 the front of the cabinet is an indicator element l9 which may have indicating indicia 2i] thereon (such as color) visible through the sight-opening 3. This indicator has the form of a plate having a right angularly bent flange 2|, cylindrical in configuration, and visible through the sight-opening 3. The outer surface of this flange may have suitable markings thereon, indicative of the amount of the supply. The indicator is loosely pivoted as at 23, to prevent binding. The pivot is so arranged that the forward part of the indicator has the greater weight and is gravityop-erable from an initial to a final indicating position. This is a feature. Both limit positions of the indicator may be controlled by stop engagement of the extension respectively with the rear and front ends 25, 26 of the slot IT.

The extension I8 which is also a stop, has pivoted thereto a link 28 and this link is pivoted as at 29 to the indicator element l9. This link pivot 29 is above the pivot 23 for the indicator, and the extension I8 to which the opposite end of the link it attached lies below the pivot N of the follower plate l3.

It is to be noted that the swinging arm I4 or follower is arranged at the rear, so that all that is necessary in loading is to push the supply roll rearwardly against the arm and raise it and its indicator to their initial positions. The device freely swings and the arrangement is such that it cannot be damaged by this loading operation. The indicator is arranged at the outer side of the supply chamber, so that its gravity-operation cannot be interfered with.

One end of the slot in the plate may act as a stop for limiting one of the extreme positions of the indicator, and the shoulder 3| of the plate acts in conjunction with the inner face of the link, to prevent undue movements of the follower in directions axially of the roll. The link is removably held by split-keys.

I claim as my invention:

1. An enclosure having, a sight opening and having pivoted therein an indicator element visible through the opening, said element being gravity operable from an initial to a final indicating position, a pivoted follower means gravity operable in follow direction, and a link pivotally connecting said indicator and follower for motions in unison.

2. An enclosure having a sight opening, a plate in the enclosure having a slot therein, an indicator element pivoted to one side of the plate and visible through the opening, said element being gravity operable from an initial to a final indicating position, gravity operable follower means pivoted to the opposite side of the plate and having an extension passing through and movable in said slot, and a link pivotally connecting said extension to said follower for motions in unison.

3. A dispensing apparatus having an enclosure having a sight opening and having a chamber to receive a supply roll of sheet material to be dispensed, means for dispensing said material, an indicator element and pivot therefor, said element being visible through the opening and being gravity operable from an initial to final indicating position, follower means and a pivot therefor, said follower being gravity operable in follow direction and adapted to rest on the top portion of a supply roll in said chamber, and a link pivotally connecting said indicator element and followers means for motions in unison.

4. A dispensing cabinet having, a sight-opening and having a chamber adapted to receive a supply roll of sheet material when introduced from the front of the cabinet, a pair of upright plates in the cabinet, means for dispensing said material in part mounted on and between said plat-es, one of said plates having a slot therein, an indicator element pivoted on the outer side of said slotted plate and being visible through the sight-opening, said element being gravity-operable from an intial to a final indicating position, follower means pivoted to the inner side of said slotted plate, in position to be engaged and moved rearwardly when a supply roll is introduced from the front of the cabinet, said follower being gravity operable, and having an extension passing through and operating in said slot, and a link pivotally connecting the indicator and follower for motions in unison.

5. In a device of the class described, an indicator element and means pivoting the same so that it moves by gravity from an initial to a final indicating position, a follower element and means pivoting it to follow by gravity, the pivoting means for said elements being in planes one above the other, and means pivotally connecting said elements at points lying in a plane which is intermediate of the planes of said pivoting means.

6. In a device of the class described, an indicator element and means pivotaing the same so that it moves by gravity from an initial to a final indicating position, a follower element and means pivoting it to follow by gravity, the pivoting means for said elements being in planes one above the other, and means pivotally connecting said elements at points lying in a plane which is intermediate of the planes of said pivoting means, said pivotal connecting means operating in a plane which is substantially parallel with the planes of motion of said elements.

'7. In a device of the class described in combination with an enclosure having a sight opening and adapted to receive a supply roll, a follower element pivoted within the cabinet to follow by gravity and so disposed as to be swung to follow position by a supply roll as it is introduced into the cabinet, a pivoted indicator element visible through the sight opening and gravity operable from an intial to a final indicating position, and a link pivoted by opposite ends respectively to said elements, so that as the follower is swung on introduction of the roll, the indicator is moved to its said initial position.

8. In a device of the class described, an indicator element, a follower element each independently pivoted to move in the same direction, from intial to final positions, and a link pivoted by opposite ends respectively to said elements, and so disposed that gravity action of the indicator pulls the follower element in follow direction.

ALBERT C. GRUNWALD. 

